Fare antitheft device for taxicabs



March 19, 1940. 1'. K. BooTH FARE ANTITHEFT DEVICE FOR TAXICABS Filed Hay 5, 1938 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. i9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT v 0F-FICE* y .n .2,194,273v l F `f FARE vmv'rrrimm:i DEVICE Fon. .'rAXIcABs- 'rhomas n. Booth, Bx, N. Y. i Application May 3', 1938. Serial N o. 205,865

, 1 claim.

Y, operated in conjunction with the fare recording meter to insure the movement thereof to recording position when a passenger enters the taxicab.

The invention has in view a device of` the ind icated character which permits the taxicab to cruise with the indicator ag of the fare recording meter thrown to non-recording position when the taxicab is unoccupied by a passenger and which necessitates the movement of the indicator iiag of the fare recordingA meter to the recording position when a'passenger enters the taxicab.

, The invention further comprehends a .device of said character which is so constructed and arranged as to render the motor inoperative when a passenger enters the taxicab and which necessitates the movement of the indicator flag of the fare recording meter to the recording position to render the motor operative.

The invention more particularly comprehends means actuated by the weight of a passenger on the seat of the taxicab to render the motor inoperative and means associated with the fare indicator meter for rendering the motor of the taxicab operative when the flag thereof is moved to recording position. y

kWith the foregoing and other objects in View, reference is now made to the following specication and the accompanying drawing in which there is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the fare anti-theft device installed in a taxicab.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammaticsectional View on line 2--2 of Fig. 1 with parts broken away to disclose the underlying structure.

IReferring to the drawing by characters of reference, A designates the passenger seat of a taxicab or motor vehicle for transporting passengers, B the usual key ignition switch thereof and C the fare recording meter provided with the usual indicator flag D which is movable from an upstanding position to a horizontal position to place the meter in operation to record the mileage and the fare. l

The device for insuring that the meter C be placed in operation to record the mileage and fare when a passenger enters the taxicab includes one or more switches I0, three such switches being shown in the present embodiment, which are disposed in transversely spaced relation beneath the f by a .conductor wire 3| as at 32.

(o1. 1801-482) Y f passenger seat A of thev taxicab and" which switches each includes a pair of xed contacts I I and I2 and a movable contactpl'ate I3 alX'ed to the lower end of a depending rod I4 secured at its upper endto the underside of the passenger 5 seat A.

The passenger seat A is pivoted at the rear asa't I5 and the forward portion thereof-is rnormally maintained by coiled expansion springs I6 in an elevated position out of supporting contact with the seat supporting structure Il so that when the seat is unoccupied, the movable contact plate I3 is disposed in bridging contact with the fixed contact points II and I2 of each switch I0;

The switches I0 are connected in series-by conductor wires I8 and I9 joining the fixed contacts II and I2 of adjacent switches. The contact II of one' of the end switches I6` has connected thereto a conductor wire 2li which is connected at its opposite end to a fixed terminal 2l` located 20 within the taxicab terminal box E and which terminal 2| is connected by a conductor wire 22 to the positive side of the taxicab storage battery F having its negative terminal grounded to the chassis as at 23. A conductor wire 24, leading from theiixed terminal 2 I, is connected to a xed contact 25 of the indicator flag switch 26 located y within the fare recording meter C. The movable contact of the indicator 'lagswitch 26 has connected theretoa conductor wire 21 which is'con- 30 nected at its opposite end to a juncture terminal 28 located within the terminal .box E..

A conductor wire 29 connects the juncture terminal 28 withy one terminal of the key'ignition switch B. The opposite terminal of the key ignition switch B is connected by aconductor wire 30 to the induction coil G of the ignition system which is grounded to the chassis of the taxicab The juncture Vterminal -28 also has connected 40 thereto a conductor wire 33 which leads to and `is connected to the fixed contact I2 of the opposite endmost switch II).

By this construction the ignition system of the taxicab may be placed in operation by the turning of the ignition key of theswitch B and the operator of the taxicab may cruise in search of passengers with the indicator flag D in the upstanding position in which position the switch 26 is open and the fare recording meter C in in- 5o active non-recording position. When in this position the switches I0 are closed and are in seriesv in the ignition circuitleading from the positive terminal' of the battery kF `to the xed terminal 2 I, conductor wire 20, switches I0, conductor wire 55 33, juncture terminal 28, conductor wire 29, key ignition switch B, conductor wire to the ignition coil G and through conductor wire 3| to ground 32 and from the ground 23 to the negative side of the battery F.

When the taxicab is occupied by a passenger the seat A is depressed by the weight of the passenger to move one or more of the contact plates I3 of the switches l0 out of contact with the fixed contacts H and I2 thereof to thus break the circuit through the key ignition switch `B to thereby render the motor inoperative. In order to again render the motor operative, the indicator flag D is moved to the horizontal position as indicated in dotted outlines in Fig. l, to thus close the switch 25 to thereby place the meter C in active recording position to record the mileage and fare. When in this position the ignition system is in the circuit leading from the positive side of the battery F, conductor wire 22, xed terminal 2l, conductor wire 24 to the Xed contact 25y of the indicator switch 26 and from thence through the conductor wire 21 to juncture terminal 28, conductor wire 2S, key ignition switch B, conductor wire 30, ignition coil G, conductor wire 3! to the ground 32 and from the opposite ground connection 23 to the negative side of the battery F'.

In order to provide means to prevent tampering with the operation of the seat A and switches I0, a plate 34' is secured to the front of the supporting structure l1 of the seat with the upper portion thereof overlying the front of the seat to cover and conceal the space between the same and the supporting structure l1.

What is claimed is:

In a device of the character set forth, the combination with a taXicab having a fare recording meter provided with an indicator iag movable respectively to positions for rendering the meter active and inactive, a motor ignition circuit including a battery, a switch operable by said indicator flag to open the ignition circuit as the ag is moved to a position to render the meter inactive and operable to close the ignition circuit as the ag is moved to a position to render the meter active, and a plurality of switches arranged in series and distributed transversely of the passenger seat and adapted to jointly function to close the ignition circuit independently of the flag actuated switch when the passenger seat is unoccupied and adapted to separately open said ignition circuit independently of said ag actuated switch When the passenger seat is occupied.

THOMAS K. BOOTH. 

